Plaits from the burial of 22th Noin-Ula barrow: results of interdisciplinary research and interpretation

The article is devoted to the results of interdisciplinary research of hair from 22th Noin ULA barrow. The plaits, discovered in Noin Ula barrows, did not belong to people buried there and, therefore, it was required to explain their appearance in the burial complexes of the Xiongnu nobles. X-ray computer tomography with high resolution (Siberian Center of Synchrotron Emission of INP SB RAS) indicated that the ancient hair is hollow over the entire length and are not suitable for genetic analysis. Observations, made during the excavation of three large barrows, permit to conclude that numerous plaits and strands of hair, found in the corridors between the inner and outer burial chamber near metal ornaments of horse harness and details of saddles, were part of the decoration of horse equipment. Plaits and strands of hair hung to the horse harness, and used as a kind of decoration of the horse and as the status marks, valor and military glory of the buried. We deduced the thickness of the ancient hairs by a scanning electron microscope with EDS (Hitachi S-3400N Type II) and compared these data with the results of the research of hairs, belonging to modern young people (Koreans, Chinese). It is showed that the results are relevant in general, and dispersion of indicators into the ancient series is significantly higher, than into the modern collection. In virtue of a comprehensive analysis of the results, it can be concluded that the hairs from Noin Ula barrows belong to representatives of different tribes and natives from the network of Xiongnu, up to Han Chinese.